In both hospitality and construction, the businesses that attract the most attention are usually the ones that stay visible. Big marketing budgets help, but you don’t actually need one to build awareness in your town or stay in front of potential customers. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective, and that’s exactly what marketing by walking around is all about.
This topic came up on a recent ProfitDig Live episode when the team talked about how online presence and local visibility apply across industries. Jerry originally developed the concept while working heavily in hospitality, but the same principles transfer perfectly into construction. Whether you’re a small contractor, a new company trying to build credibility, or an established business looking to stay relevant, this strategy works.
What Is Marketing by Walking Around?
The idea is as simple as it sounds: get out into the world and capture what’s going on around you. Photos. Videos. Interesting things happening in town. Things your customers care about. Things happening on your job sites.
Then turn those moments into content for your social media, website, or YouTube channel.
A lot of contractors think marketing means ads, polished posts, or professional cameras. You don’t need any of that. You can do everything with your phone. Walk around the job site, shoot a few photos, take a quick video clip, or record a simple explanation of what you’re working on that day.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. The goal is consistency.
Become a Local Information Hub
One of the biggest takeaways from the discussion was that your website and social channels shouldn’t just be about selling your services. They should be a source of information related to your community.
People spend more time engaging with content that helps them stay connected:
- What’s happening around town
- Interesting jobs in progress
- Seasonal tips and reminders
- Behind-the-scenes looks at construction work
- Local events you’re involved in
When your business becomes a go-to source of local content, you start building trust, even with people who may not need you yet.
And in the construction world, anyone is a potential customer — homeowners, real estate investors, developers, small business owners, property managers, city officials. They all pay attention to what’s happening around them.
When they see your posts consistently, your name sticks.
The Hardest Part Is Remembering to Do It
Every contractor watching this will relate to one point from the conversation: when you’re busy working, you’re not thinking about marketing. You’re focused on the job, the schedule, and the crew.
That’s normal.
But marketing by walking around isn’t about hours of work. It’s about taking small moments throughout your day to capture something interesting:
- A trench being dug
- A before-and-after of a cleared lot
- A quick update on a pipe installation
- A neat piece of equipment in action
- A short tip about something you wish customers understood
Even 30 seconds of effort can turn into a strong piece of content.
Later, when you’re home, you can open YouTube Studio or a social media app, add a caption, and post it.
Small, simple steps that add up.
You Don’t Need a Computer to Do Any of This
One of the points the guys made is that everything you need is already in your pocket. Your phone can:
- Shoot video
- Take photos
- Edit clips
- Upload to YouTube
- Post on Instagram and Facebook
- Manage your pages
- Reply to comments
If you want to save time, you can even use posting apps to publish to multiple platforms at once. But whether you use tools or not, the core strategy stays the same: show up consistently.
Why This Works So Well for Contractors
Construction work is naturally visual. People love seeing how things look before, during, and after. They love watching big machines. They love watching progress.
Marketing by walking around taps directly into that curiosity.
When you capture your jobs as they happen, you:
- Show professionalism
- Build credibility
- Demonstrate your process
- Prove your quality
- Keep your company top-of-mind
- Build a steady stream of content with almost no extra time or cost
It’s a win across the board.
Make It a Habit
The trick is not perfection. The trick is consistency. Even a few posts per week will help you:
- Stay active on your platforms
- Keep algorithms happy
- Build visibility
- Earn trust with your audience
As the guys joked during the episode, you only need to carve out a “tiny chunk of brain power” to remember to grab your phone here and there. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Marketing by walking around is simple, low pressure, and extremely effective. You don’t need a big budget. You don’t need complicated equipment. You just need to be active, visible, and intentional.
If you want more customers, more visibility, and a stronger brand in your local market, start following this approach today. Your future work pipeline will thank you.